Thoughtful Reflections on Faith and Life
I am embarrassed to say that there are some Christians who are claiming (with confidence!) that the recently departed Dolly Parton is in hell. There are a lot of snarky things I would like to say about this but I am going to try and address this more reasonably. Here is one of the more … Read More “Why Do Some People Think Dolly Parton is in Hell?” »
There is currently a controversy regarding Christian philosopher William Lane Craig concerning his view of Jesus as the Son of God. Craig is not denying the deity of Jesus or the sonship of Jesus. It is much more nuanced than that. In the following clip, Craig denies the eternal begetting of the Son. Notice the … Read More “What is the Eternal Generation of the Son?” »
You will likely have seen some pretty inflammatory headlines about Canada’s healthcare system and the policy of euthanizing people against their will. Is this true? Or more accurately, how much of this is true? What seems to be true is that a woman named Brigette Stegemann received Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD), despite making statements … Read More “Is Canada Euthanizing People Against Their Will?” »
For many Christians, it is plain sense that a human is body, spirit, and soul. In fact, this is sometimes used as an imperfect analogy for the Trinity. At the very least, most Christians believe that we have a physical aspect and a non-material spiritual aspect. This substance dualism is common even beyond Christianity. Substance … Read More “What is Christian Physicalism?” »
One of the goals that I have in terms of theology is to read outside of my tradition. I do not want to just have previous opinions strengthened. Plus, I don’t always agree with my own tradition. It is in this spirit that I read Passion, Power, and Promise by Robert C. Fennell. Links in … Read More “Passion, Power, and Promise: Introducing the Holy Spirit – Review” »
It has been said that extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence. This tends to be used as a weapon against Christians. The existence of God or the bodily resurrection of Jesus are extraordinary claims, skeptics demand more evidence than we provide. I agree to a certain extent that extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence. In general, I … Read More “How Should Christians Evaluate Extraordinary Claims?” »
I cannot remember a time when conspiracy theories have been more popular. There are articles about events that I at first think are satirical that I later find reflect real belief. There are far more flat-earthers now than at anytime in recent history. They can be found all over the globe (see what I did … Read More “How Should Christians Respond to Conspiracy Theories?” »
One of the pressing issues for the church today, although not everyone agrees with this, is sexual abuse in the church. I remember when evangelicals used to point to Roman Catholics and abuse by priests as evidence of their theological error. Now, sexual abuse within evangelical churches is as rampant as everywhere else. How do … Read More “Apologetics and Responding to Sexual Abuse in the Church” »
The question about the role of women and what the Bible allows them to do in terms of leadership and teaching is an ongoing one. The two sides of the question remain equally entrenched. Ironically, both sides would say that the Bible is clear, meaning the Bible supports their position. The problem is that the … Read More “The Biblical Conflict Regarding Women and Authority” »
I recently saw on social media an uproar about N.T. Wright. There were those who once respected his biblical scholarship who found that they could no longer agree with him. What did he say now? In an interview with Michael Bird on the Ask N.T. Wright Anything podcast, Wright described Adam and Eve as hominids, … Read More “Is N.T. Wright a Heretic Regarding His Views of Adam?” »
One of the biggest concerns among (mostly conservative) Christians in Canada is Bill C-9. This is an act to amend current Canadian hate speech laws. Much of it has to do with the use of symbols that are associated with hate speech, something timely with the rise of antisemitism and white supremist groups. But what … Read More “Is Canada Passing Legislation That Would Ban the Bible?” »
There are some Christians who take it upon themselves to be “heretic hunters.” These are not people who point out differences between Christianity and other religions, or even Christian-like sects that have never been considered a part of historic Christianity. This is looking within the church for those who are heretics. To be fair, we … Read More “The Dangers of Heretic Hunting” »
What is the Christian response to the war in Iran? That is a funny question, not because there is anything funny about the conflict, but because it assumes that there is one unified response. I can’t even tell you what the response of Canadian Baptists are to the war in Iran. But that is not … Read More “What is The Christian Response to the War with Iran?” »
Christians who seek to understand the world’s religions often encounter the two largest branches of Islam: Sunni and Shi’ite (Shia) Islam. While both groups share the same basic religious foundation, they developed out of a historic disagreement about leadership after the death of Islam’s founder, Muhammad in 632 AD. Over time, that disagreement grew into distinct religious traditions with different histories, … Read More “Understanding the Difference Between Sunni and Shi’ite Islam” »
John Piper is blowing up the internet right with his quotation of Leviticus 19:34 and the implication that this might be relevant to how Christians should see immigrants, including undocumented immigrants, living among us. I have addressed this elsewhere in my article John Piper’s Unforgivable Sin. Some of John Piper’s critics are claiming that Piper … Read More “John Piper, Immigrants, and Sojourners” »
With recent statements by Donald Trump that he will release information about extraterrestrial life, the debate about the possible existence of alien life has ignited once more among Christians. Science-Based Debate For some people, the conversation revolves around science, or at least our interpretations. There are those who look at our vast universe and reason … Read More “Are Reports of Aliens Really Encounters With Demons?” »
Having recently watched The Tank, there are many thoughts that have gone through my mind. I have provided a spoiler-free review of the movie already. This post will include spoilers. If you have not seen the movie but intend to, I suggest skipping this post. The movie begins with a battle on a bridge between … Read More “What Actually Happened in The Tank Movie?” »
I recently saw evangelist Franklin Graham share a concerning story from Fox News. This would be a serious breach of religious freedom if Clive Johnston was arrested for simply preaching a gospel message based on John 3:16. But was he? There is far more to the story. People in the UK are not being arrested … Read More “Is the UK Arresting People For Preaching the Gospel?” »
Recently, Donald Trump created waves when he made some extremely critical remarks after the tragic murder of filmmaker Rob Reiner and his wife. My intention is not to comment specifically on his comments, the views of Trump, or the politics of Reiner. As unfortunate as that event was, it is also a challenge to all … Read More “Respecting Those We Disagree With” »
In conversations about world religions, most Christians are familiar with the broad contours of Islam—its belief in one God, the Qur’an, the Prophet Muhammad, and its major branches: Sunni and Shia. Less well known is Ahmadiyya Islam, a minority Muslim movement founded in the late nineteenth century. Though it considers itself fully Muslim, most of the … Read More “Understanding Ahmadiyya Islam: A Respectful Christian Analysis” »
The title of this post may surprise you. You may assume that there is nothing within Buddhism that Christians can learn from. I disagree. There is one thing in particular that I think that Christians can learn from Buddhists. There is a teaching within Buddhism that speaks of the three treasures of Buddhism. These are … Read More “What Christians Can Learn From Buddhists” »
The first thing that I want to say is that this is not an attack on Christian apologists. I firmly believe in the importance of Christian apologetics and I am an apologist myself. But as an insider, I have found myself getting disillusioned by what apologists say and how they say it. I believe that … Read More “Dangerous Fallacies Commonly Used by Christian Apologists” »
You come across an article on the internet that really supports your views. You get excited and share it widely. But should you? The first test should NOT be whether you personally agree with the sentiment. Remember the claims about immigrants catching and eating pets? How should you read an internet article? What I’m going … Read More “How to Critically Read an Article on the Internet” »
I frequently hear Christians outside of the United States, including evangelicals, wondering how American conservative Christians can be so supportive of Donald Trump. Now, I am also aware that there were many American evangelicals who voted for Trump while “holding their noses.” There were many things about Trump that they did not like but they … Read More “Why Are Conservative Christians So Supportive of Donald Trump?” »
In recent decades, interest in ancient pre-Christian religions has experienced a revival, with Norse Paganism—often referred to as Heathenry or Ásatrú—gaining particular attention. This movement draws inspiration from the myths, sagas, and folklore of the pre-Christian Norse world, but it is also shaped by modern spiritual needs and social contexts. Norse Paganism and Norse Mythology At the heart … Read More “The Modern Faith Movement of Norse Paganism” »
Conservative influencer Charlie Kirk has been murdered. This act of violence has shocked many. Even if Kirk was controversial, to be killed in such a public way looks more like a television plot than reality. In the wake of Charlie Kirk’s murder, I have seen two main reactions. Both concern me. There are those who … Read More “Charlie Kirk, Violence, and Polarization” »
I have a complicated relationship with Christian apologetics. I strongly believe in the need for apologetics but have been disappointed and discouraged by what I see. I have been thinking a lot about this and I believe I have come to a conclusion about the core problem of Christian apologetics. I believe that it comes … Read More “The Core Problem With Christian Apologetics” »
When I had returned to faith in my early twenties, if I randomly turned on Christian radio, there was a good chance that I would hear James Dobson, a person connected with James Dobson, or people discussing issues as taught by James Dobson. James Dobson was a Christian psychologist and the founder of the influential … Read More “Why Some People Have Been Critical of the Legacy of James Dobson” »
Many Christians are very concerned about the suffering in Gaza. There is increasing evidence that there is some significant suffering including a famine. The World Council of Churches has issued a statement on their concern over the crisis in Gaza. But not all Christians feel the same way. There are some Christians who seem to … Read More “Why Are Some Christians Skeptical of Suffering in Gaza?” »
I have been following the adventures of Sean Feucht with his attempt at a Canadian tour and the opposition that he has faced. Feucht has been clear on his interpretation of the events. Canadian authorities are persecuting him and this is part of a wider persecution against the church in Canada. I find this of … Read More “Sean Feucht, Freedom of Speech, and Persecution” »
Christian singer and speaker Sean Feucht has been attempting to have a Canadian tour. It is not going well for him as venue after venue is cancelling. Read: Permit revoked for MAGA musician’s concert at Parks Canada site, but show will go on Here is his official statement on X: Not surprisingly, Feucht is trying … Read More “Why is Sean Feucht Being Cancelled in Canada?” »
I recently looked at Anthony Costello’s concerns about the recent Superman movie. Those concerns were based on aesthetics. However, Anthony has further theological issues with what James Gunn’s Superman. In a blog post titled James Gunn’s Superman: Christus or Prometheus?, Anthony works through what he considers to be some very serious issues, especially for Christians … Read More “Theological Issues With James Gunn’s Superman?” »
This is not another review of Superman as I have already reviewed the new Superman movie. Rather this is a response to a blog post by Anthony Costello titled James Gunn’s Not So Super “Superman.” Anthony is a Christian apologist. That is not a critique or a reason to discount his thoughts as I also … Read More “James Gunn’s Praiseworthy Superman” »
A month or so ago, I notice quite a few Christians posting on social media, statements by a person (that we had never heard of before) named YoungHoon Kim. This person, who self-describes as the “Highest IQ Record Holder” made a number of very pro-Christian statements. Here is just one example: There are many more … Read More “Why Have Christians Been Drawn to YoungHoon Kim?” »
The Baháʼí Faith is one of the youngest world religions, emerging in the 19th century amidst a time of great political, religious, and social change. Rooted in the Middle East, it has since grown into a global religion with millions of adherents across every continent. Its message of unity and peace continues to inspire followers … Read More “Understanding the Baháʼí Faith: Origins, Beliefs, and Global Reach” »
One of the well known aspects of the Easter story is the burying of Jesus in the tomb of Arimithea. Of course skeptics are going to have all sorts of problems with this story. I dealt with the suggestion that Jesus was not buried at all in this video: But another question could be about … Read More “Was Joseph of Arimathea a Disciple of Jesus?” »
There are many Christian charities all around the world. Whatever criticism the Church may deserve, Christians have had a positive impact on the world. There are hospitals, homeless shelters, soup kitchens, counselling centres, and many other programs designed to meet people’s needs. But what is the ultimate goal of this? Specifically, for evangelicals? I grew … Read More “Why Should Christians Care For People’s Needs?” »
Before I go any farther, I want to make it clear that I identify as an evangelical. I speak not as an outsider who hates evangelicals but as an insider who is concerned. Most of the things that I am going to include are bad of themselves but how they are used can be dangerous … Read More “5 Idols of Evangelicalism” »
Two of my greatest interests are autism and apologetics. When both topics come together, I’m in my happy place. One of the podcasts that I listen to is Christianity on the Spectrum, a podcast that looks at autistic people, both Christian and ex-Christian. One of their recent episodes was called Autism and Apologetics. This episode … Read More “Apologetics, Autism, and Important Lessons” »
Before you think that I am digging up old dirt on a person who has been dead for years, I want you to know that in many ways this post in not about Ravi Zacharias. I remember what it was like after apologist Ravi Zacharias died. Accusations of sexual harassment and other abuse were beginning … Read More “How I Came to Believe the Accusations Against Ravi Zacharias” »
As I spend time on social media, I come across quite a few Christians who are rejoicing at reports of immigrants being rounded up, being expelled from the country, and being put in a prison (not necessarily in their home country). Not only do these Christians approve of these actions, they assert that is “the” … Read More “How Should Christians Think About Immigrants?” »
Richard Carrier is one of the most well known Jesus Mythicists, that is a person who argues that Jesus was never a historical figure. I regularly get questions asking me to respond to some article that he wrote. Most recently, I was asked to respond to his journal article, “Origen, Eusebius, and theAccidental Interpolation in … Read More “The Difficulty in Responding to Richard Carrier” »
Millions of Christians celebrate the resurrection of Jesus. Is this a sign of a widespread delusion or is such a belief rational? No doubt, there are skeptics who see belief in the resurrection as irrational. That is fine. I respect their right to believe that. It is true that it is not common for people … Read More “Is It Rational to Believe in the Resurrection of Jesus?” »
I have recently been sent a number of posts by skeptics who observe that the Gospel of Mark, which most scholars believe is the earliest Gospel, does not include an actual appearance by the risen Jesus. Of course there is an appearance after Mark 16:8, but anything after that verse is a later addition, presumably … Read More “The Gospel of Mark and the Resurrection of Jesus” »
What is morality? According to the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, morality is defined as For Christians, morality is determined by the commands of God as revealed in the Bible. But it’s actually not quite as simple as that. What do we do when the Bible describes God commanding something that we would normally consider to … Read More “Reflections on the Morality of God” »
A turning point for Saul of Tarsus, better known to us as the Apostle Paul, was his meeting with the risen Christ on the road to Damascus. Since it was a turning point for him, it was also for Christianity. But what exactly did Paul experience on the road to Damascus? Paul only hints at … Read More “What Did Paul Experience on the Road to Damascus?” »
Christians believe that Jesus died and that he rose from the dead on the third day. But what do we mean by that? What kind of resurrection do we think he experienced? For those who believed that something real happened to Jesus after his death, and this would include the Apostle Paul and the Gospel … Read More “Was the Resurrection of Jesus a Spiritual or Bodily Resurrection?” »
I was asked by someone to respond to a post titled My reply to “Five Reasons to Doubt the Resurrection by Matthew Hartke, Debunked.” So I am responding to a response that was a response to some original statement! Here I go. I will not respond to everything in the post at turch is rong … Read More “Responding to Some Criticisms of the Resurrection” »
I can imagine a certain segment of the population suggestion that Christian belief is completely irrational. Not just that Christianity is not true but that it does not deserve a seat at the table. Is Christianity a rational worldview? Richard Dawkins, in his best selling book, The God Delusion, argues that it is not. Belief … Read More “Is Christianity a Rational Worldview?” »
When I hear about Christian speakers getting the opportunity to be on a major platform far wider than our own Christian circles, I get nervous. Some of the speakers are embarrassing and have no idea how to engage outside of their own areas of influence or they are not prepared for a host with strong … Read More “Why Wesley Huff Made Such an Impact on the Joe Rogan Show” »
I have been involved in some sort of theistic apologetics for a long time. I can recall presenting evidence for the existence of God while I was still in the process of moving from a general theism to a return to Christianity. After seminary, I heavily embraced what is sometimes called the “Apologetics industrial complex” … Read More “5 Trends That Have (Re)Shaped My Christian Apologetics” »
If you were to go back in time to the first Easter Sunday morning, what would you have seen at the tomb of Jesus? This is a question that has been asked by both Christians and skeptics. In some ways, this is an important question. What did the earliest Christians believe happened to the physical … Read More “Was the Tomb Empty?” »
In church Christmas pageants, there usually are people dressed up as some of the “side characters” including the shepherds and the wise men. The shepherds are fairly easy to understand but were these wise men or magi? In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the … Read More “Who Are the Magi From the Christmas Story?” »
This week has been packed with insightful articles, podcasts, and resources on Christian apologetics! Below, I’ve gathered some of the highlights from various apologetics websites to help strengthen your faith and equip you to engage in meaningful conversations. 1. Was Christ a Copycat? This article from Reasonable Theology examines claims that the story of Jesus mirrors pagan myths. … Read More “Weekly Roundup: Christian Apologetics Posts You Don’t Want to Miss” »
I have seen some recent claims by some Christians that pro-life activist, Paulette Harlow was arrested simply silently praying across the street from an abortion clinic. We are meant to be outraged that this 75 year old woman would be sent to jail and we are meant to see this as a sign of the … Read More “Was Paulette Harlow Jailed For Silently Praying?” »
The protestant Christian Bible has 66 books, 39 books in the Old Testament and 27 books in the New Testament. But why those particular books and who chose them? I frequently hear people say that the church did not choose the books of the Bible, God did. How can you argue with that? From the … Read More “Why Do We Have the Books of the Bible We Do?” »
What Lewis tries to accomplish in his popular apologetics is to let the readers taste the symbolic universe of Christianity from the inside. He invites them to immerse into the grand story and to soak in the atmosphere of the Gospel. He avoids watering it down with abstractions and moralistic platitudes. The modern reader is … Read More “C.S. Lewis and the Language of Apologetics” »
I do enjoy studying theology. However, I sometimes have my doubts when theologians confidently state what God is like. They make it sound so easy. Too easy. They might say that it is relatively simple because we have the Bible and all we have to do is summarize the Bible. What the Bible says about … Read More “How Much Do We Know About God?” »
One of the questions that Christians disagree on is whether Christians can serve in the military. It is a complicated issue and people on both sides have strong convictions. Quoting “turn the other cheek” or “love your enemy” should not shut down the conversation. Those verses are part of the conversation but they are not … Read More “Soldiers in Luke-Acts” »
Are Christians ever allowed to lie? I once taught ethics at a Christian university and we discussed this. There is no consensus as to the answer. The discussion generally revolves around something like lying to Nazis about Jews that you are hiding and that telling the truth would lead to their death. Many Christians (but … Read More “Is It Okay For Christians to Lie If It Helps Their Cause?” »
It is common to hear the claim that the Gospels are not trustworthy because they are just myths. Is this true? Are the Gospels myths? Well, it depends on what you mean by “myth.” The Cambridge Dictionary gives two definitions of myth with the first being: a traditional story, esp. one which explains the early … Read More “Are the Gospels Myths?” »
There is no lack of disagreements among Christians. We have Orthodox, Roman Catholics, Anglicans, Mainline, Evangelicals, Anabaptists, and Charismatics. Even within each group there are plenty of diversity on interpretations. Just one local congregation will likely have a variety of beliefs on certain issues. Christians have tended to disagree rather publicly, with Martin Luther nailing … Read More “Public Disagreement as Apologetics” »
When evangelicalism, as we know it today, emerged from fundamentalism in the twentieth century, there was some semi-unity. Yes there were various denominations within evangelicalism that had different views on charismatic gifts, women in leadership, eschatology, and a few other issues, but there was still one tent under which they co-existed. I see a change … Read More “Fracture Lines Within Evangelicalism” »
The first time I encountered what is often called annihilationism was in a talk about the beliefs of Jehovah’s Witnesses. The idea that God would just cause the wicked to cease to exist was another blatant example of how heretical the Jehovah’s Witnesses really were. But then I heard about well respected evangelical scholars such … Read More “My Move Toward Conditional Immortality” »
The recent assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump has a lot of people talking. Including Christians. What is the significance of Trump’s survival? One of the conversations I saw was about how Trump narrowly survived this attack. Did God intervene in what would have been an otherwise successful assassination or did God predetermine before … Read More “Trump, Assassination Attempts, and God’s Intervention” »
Apologists put a lot of time and energy into their activities. But what is it that they are actually trying to achieve? I am not suggesting that all apologists should share the same goal. But I do think that apologists should reflect on what they are trying to accomplish. Some potential goals Choosing goals I … Read More “Apologists Need to Clarify Their Goals” »
I have had a number of people ask me about cremation over the years. I hear some wide variety of opinions, even among Christians. Some take it for granted that no Christian would ever get cremated and others taking for granted that few Christians should want to pay the high prices for burial. Should Christians … Read More “Christians and Cremation: Another Perspective” »
Does God predestinate everything or do humans have free will? Are miracles still happening today? How old is the earth and what process did God use to make humans? Who gets to be baptized and how is it done? Christians disagree on each of these things. How should we respond? In general, the church has … Read More “Should We Tolerate Theological Diversity?” »
Some people are getting upset with biblical scholar Michael Licona. Unfortunately, this is not the first time. The current controversy is over his new book: Jesus, Contradicted: Why the Gospels Tell the Same Story Differently. Now I need to make something clear. I have not read Licona’s book (yet) and so I cannot critique or … Read More “Does the Bible Need to Be Inerrant to Be Reliable?” »
What would happen if we discovered actual proof that there was life in other planets? Such a discovery would revolutionize many areas of study, but how would it affect religion, specifically Christianity? How would the Church react? If something like this happened, there would likely be a wide range of responses from different corners of … Read More “How Would Life on Other Planets Impact Christianity?” »
I can understand that based on what I blog and what I share on social media that it might be difficult to determine whether I am a liberal or a conservative Christian. Although a recent Twitter (X) poll suggested that more people see me as a liberal Christian: I will confess that this was not … Read More “Am I a Liberal or a Conservative Christian?” »
Some conservative Christians recently expressed outrage that President Biden proclaimed a Trans Day of Visibility to coincide with Easter. For some, this felt like a direct attack on Christianity. But was it? It is important to note that the Trans Day of Visibility has existed on March 31 since 2009 and was not created by … Read More “Did President Biden Tie the Trans Day of Visibility to Easter?” »
What does the Bible say about transgender people? Does the Bible say that being a transgender person is a sin worthy of hell? Many today would say so. The truth is that the Bible does not really address what we know today as a transgender identity: a person who identifies as a gender other than … Read More “Can You Be Transgender and a Christian?” »
Christians, all along the theological spectrum, develop their beliefs over time, taking positions on certain issues. But how do we determine our position, especially when there are so many issues and multiple interpretations about what is the right way? I am going to focus here not on what to do, but on what not to … Read More “The Wrong Way to Discern the Truth” »
I purposely titled this post wrestling with prayer rather than wrestling in prayer, although the latter is a good thing to do as well. Even though most Christians believe in the importance of prayer, we rarely ask the hard questions about the nature of prayer. If I asked a random group of Christians from a … Read More “Wrestling With Prayer” »
I have been involved in Christian apologetics in one way or another for most of my adult Christian life. Over that time, I have become disillusioned over some aspects of what I call the apologetics industry. But this is not to the time to vent about that. There are many who believe that time for … Read More “There Will Always Be a Place For Apologetics” »
Imagine you meet a person and they tell you that they use the pronouns they/them or you encounter someone you know was born as a male but now identify as female and request that you use she/her as pronouns. What do you do? For those who want to be respectful but worry that using their … Read More “Is It Lying to Use Someone’s Preferred Pronouns?” »
There has been a recent uproar as a satanic image had been placed in the Iowa Capital Building. Now Christians frequently describe things they don’t like as “satanic.” In this case it was a display erected by the Church of Satan and so was literally satanic. Since then, a conservative Christians has destroyed the display. … Read More “Satanic Images, Public Buildings, and Christians” »
Sometimes Christians get accused of being so heavenly minded that they are no earthly good. I understand the critique in that statement, but I’m not sure that all Christians are agreed on what we mean by heaven. Probably in statements like that, people are referring to Christians who are eager for the afterlife. They endure … Read More “What is Heaven?” »
There has been some recent discussion online, based on comments by John Piper, that walking away from the church is the same as walking away from Christ? Is this true? What I think is ironic is that much of the agreement of Piper’s statement comes from Reformed circles which believes in eternal security. This means … Read More “Is Walking Away From the Church the Same as Walking Away From Christ?” »
I believe that attitudes toward 2SLGBTQA+ people within our churches is the most divisive issue among Christians. This is a debate not just between Christians and non-Christians but also between Christians. Some more conservative Christians might reject that statement since “You cannot be a Christian and support same-sex relations.” Therefore, the debate really is between … Read More “Are Gay-Affirming Christians Outside of Orthodox Christianity?” »
Andy Stanley is one of the more polarizing figures in evangelical Christianity. For many, he is the epitome of evangelical success, building a huge church that impacts other churches around the US and abroad. For others, he is the poster child for the sacrificing biblical Christianity for pragmatic ministry. I have written a number of … Read More “Is Andy Stanley Leaving Biblical Christianity?” »
When I came back to faith in my early 20s, I began attending a Pentecostal church. This church was extremely interested in the end-times, especially the rapture. This is not just my impression. At one point, while I was in seminary, I looked into getting credentialed with that denomination. One of the requirements was to … Read More “Should We Be Watching For the Rapture?” »
If I was to ask this question to a random selection of evangelical Christians, I suspect that they would overwhelmingly say that we need to believe in the Trinity to be saved. But why? Let me clarify that I am a Trinitarian Christian who believed that there is one God, who is the Father, Son, … Read More “Do You Need to Believe in the Trinity to Be Saved?” »
There are those who really push back against Christian apologetics, and I’m not talking about skeptics. I think that some Christians have a problem with apologetics because of a misunderstanding about apologetics. The truth is that there are different forms of apologetics, some better than others. I would like to show what apologetics can be, … Read More “Apologetics: What It Can Be, Should Be and Should Not Be” »
For some people, the holding or rejecting to the doctrine of inerrancy is the dividing line between ‘us’ and ‘them’. Certain evangelicals see in errancy as one of the, if not the, most important battles to be fought. Once inerrancy is given up, it is a slippery slope into liberalism and eventual apostasy. But is … Read More “Inerrancy and the Authority of the Bible” »
There has been a huge resurgence in Christian apologetics over the past couple of decades. It can be said, without exaggeration, that there is an entire Christian apologetics industry in place. The amount of books, podcasts, video channels, conferences, and theological degrees related to apologetics is greater than at any other time. Some of the … Read More “3 Shifts That Christian Apologetics Must Make” »
When people see the title of this post, they might push back and say it is not hatred. It is simply a disagreement about a lifestyle. That may be true about some but for others, by any definition it is hatred. You will find Christians on social media calling for the imprisonment and even execution … Read More “Why Do Some Christians Hate 2SLGBTQIA+ People So Much?” »
There have been some discussions on social media recently around women in pastoral leadership. This is nothing new of course. But some people have been connecting those who approve of women in leadership with an abandonment of biblical authority. This is not surprising because there is a strong overlap between those who affirm only men … Read More “Women in Leadership and Biblical Authority” »
One of the big items in the news lately has been the anti-homosexuality legislation that has been adopted in Uganda. Uganda has traditionally taken a hard stand against same-sex activity but this is the imposing of stricter sanctions. You can find the actual details of the law here. I noticed on social media that some … Read More “What’s Wrong With Uganda’s Anti-Homosexuality Act?” »
I recently did a Twitter poll that stated that not all Christians were evangelicals. While some people disagreed with me, there were others that misunderstood me. They asked questions such as: “How can you be a Christian and not share the gospel, i.e. do evangelism?” While I was referring to a tradition within Christianity, evangelical … Read More “What’s the Difference Between Evangelicalism and Evangelism?” »
One of the most popular arguments for the existence of God is the moral argument. There are a number of different versions of it. Here is one that was recently shared with me on social media: (1) If God does not exist, then objective morality does not exist.(2) Objective morality does exist.(3) Therefore, God exists. … Read More “My Problem With the Moral Argument” »
I must confess that one of the Christian thinkers that I have wanted to learn more about have struggled to do successfully is Soren Kierkegaard. I have only read snippets of his work and I have plodded through a few short introductions. What I am much more comfortable reading is a biblical commentary, even if … Read More “Behold, My Mother and My Brethren! – Review” »
Sadly, we usually only go a few week before hearing about another school shooting. While we should be grieving for the dead and for the loved one left behind, it usually turns into a debate about gun control. So what is the Christian view on the possession of firearms and gun control? Well, obviously the … Read More “What is the Christian View of the Possession of Firearms?” »
How did God create humanity and when did he do it? Many people wrestle with this question and I have held a number of different positions over the years. Growing up in church, this question never came up. If you had asked me back then it would probably have been something like evolution with very … Read More “What is the Christian View of Human Origins?” »
If you were to ask the average person on the street what they think Christianity says about where people go when they die, they would probably respond with: “Either heaven or hell.” Is the Christian position as simple as heaven or hell? For some people, it would be that simple. But within the Christian Church, … Read More “What is the Eternal Fate of Non-Christians?” »
When I hear people claiming that their theological position is correct, one of the most frequent statements is something like “The Bible is clear…” The point is that since the Bible is clear, people should not be disagreeing with this theological position. But how clear is the Bible? I recently did a Twitter poll and … Read More “Is the Bible Clear?” »
I have been involved in Christian apologetics pretty much since I returned to faith in my early 20s. It was a natural step as I came from being an atheist and was still looking for answers. While I would not consider myself a “professional” apologist, I think I have learned something about Christian apologetics. What … Read More “5 Things I Have learned About Christian Apologetics” »
There has been a huge renaissance in Christian apologetics, ranging from the scholar to the pastor to the layperson. But what is the role of the Christian apologist? What should be their goal? I discuss this in this episode based on a video I recorded. For more on Christian apologetics, visit me here. Please support this … Read More “What is the Role of Christian Apologetics?” »
I recently received two books in the Apologetics For Teens series written by Bethany Kaldas. They are put out by an Orthodox publisher but represent what C.S. Lewis refers to as “mere Christianity.” One is called Did Jesus Rise From the Dead? It features the basic evidence for the resurrection of Jesus, but deals with … Read More “Apologetics For Teens – Review” »
